IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL POTENITAL OF SIX TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN PLANTS AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

Rola Jadallah; Tahreer Tahaineh

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v11i5.1663

Rola Jadallah Arab American University, Palestine.
Tahreer Tahaineh Arab American University, Palestine.

10.22270/ujpr.v11i5.1663

Keywords:

Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum verum, Mentha piperita, Paronychia argentea, Petroselinum crispum, Syzygium aromaticum

Abstract

Aim and objective: Medicinal plants remain part of Palestinian ethnomedicine, including remedies used for infectious conditions. This work evaluated six commonly used plants for in vitro activity against two representative bacterial pathogens.

Methods: Ethanolic and water extracts of clove (Syzygium aromaticum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), peppermint (Mentha piperita), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), green tea (Camellia sinensis), and silver nailroot (Paronychia argentea) were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using an agar well-diffusion assay.

Results: Ethanolic preparations produced greater antibacterial effects than the corresponding aqueous preparations. Clove showed the strongest overall response, followed by cinnamon and peppermint, whereas green tea and parsley were less active and silver nailroot showed comparatively weak activity. The tested Gram-positive organism was generally more susceptible than the Gram-negative organism.

Conclusion: These in vitro findings identify several Palestinian medicinal plants, particularly clove, as candidates for further antibacterial investigation. Isolation of active constituents, mechanistic studies, and appropriate in vivo safety and efficacy testing are required before therapeutic use can be considered.